Diversity and Status of Butterflies in Maitum Village, Tandag, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

Diversity and assessment of butterflies of Maitum, Tandag, Surigaodel Sur were conducted to provide information on the species composition, diversity and status of butterflies in dipterocarp forest and agro ecosystems. A total of 104 species of butterflies belonging to 68 genera and 5 families were documented. Species richness of the butterflies was higher in the dipterocarp forest (89) than the agro ecosystem (51). The dipterocarp forest had greater mean individual (4.173) than the agro ecosystem (3.712). The diversity level was fair in dipterocarp forest (H’= 1.638) as compared to the agroecosystem area with low level of diversity (H’= 1.369). Dendrogram for similarity of species composition showed a fairly low species between the two study stations, this suggests the importance of the two habitats for the conservation of butterflies in Maitum Village, Tandag, Surigao del Sur. Assessment of status showed that 57 species (54.8 %), were common 16 (15. 3%) were rare, 12 (11.5%) were rare Philippine endemics, 6 (5.7%) were common Philippine endemics, 2 (1.9%) common Mindanao endemics, 1 (.96%) rare Mindanao endemic, 1 (.96%) very rare eastern Mindanao endemic, and 9 (8.6%) were undetermined. These results suggest that Maitum, Tandag, Surigao del Sur is the home of 104 species of butterflies and the dipterocarp forest is the home of diverse and endemic species of butterflies for conservation.

 

Keywords - Diversity, Status, Conservation, Butterflies, Maitum Village.